A wave of heavy rainfall across the United Arab Emirates has prompted major food delivery platforms to temporarily pause or slow down operations as safety concerns mount for delivery riders navigating rain-soaked roads.

Unstable weather linked to a low-pressure system has brought scattered showers, strong winds, thunder and reduced visibility to parts of the country, particularly affecting Dubai, Sharjah and surrounding regions. The National Centre of Meteorology warns that these conditions are expected to persist in some areas through Friday, with intermittent showers possible over the coming weekend.

Against this backdrop, popular food delivery apps including Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem and Noon have restricted services in the worst-affected areas. Many users have reported that when opening their apps, nearby restaurants and outlet options appear limited or unavailable, and orders cannot be placed until conditions improve.

Two-wheeler riders, who make up the bulk of last-mile deliveries, are especially vulnerable to slick roads, poor visibility and flooded underpasses, leading platforms to halt deliveries proactively rather than risk accidents. Real-time weather and road data are being used to dynamically monitor conditions and adjust service availability.

In-app notifications are being issued to inform customers of service pauses and longer wait times where deliveries are still accepted. In some zones, delivery radius limits have been reduced to avoid longer trips in hazardous conditions, while riders are encouraged to log off voluntarily if conditions worsen.

With Dubai government entities shifting to remote work on Friday amid unstable weather and the private sector urged to follow suit, more residents are expected to stay indoors and potentially increase demand on food delivery apps already struggling with paused or slowed services.

Unstable weather

Dubai Police issued a public safety alert on Thursday evening urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain at home until at least midday on Friday, December 19, as adverse conditions and scattered rainfall linger across the emirate.

The UAE has been experiencing significant weather fluctuations this week, with intermittent showers, thunderstorms, and safety advisories issued by authorities as the unstable system moves through the region.

Salik Company, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has partnered with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) to launch the ‘Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes’ competition, inviting the creative community to reimagine Salik tags through original designs inspired by the city’s identity, cultural diversity and artistic spirit.

The initiative calls on artists, designers, calligraphers and graffiti artists to submit concepts that reflect their personal interpretation of Dubai while celebrating the emirate’s distinctive arts scene. The competition aims to provide a platform for emerging and established creatives, particularly youth, to contribute directly to the evolution of a widely used urban mobility touchpoint.

Entries are now open until 19 January 2026, with a total prize pool of Dhs100,000 ($27,000). Winners will be announced during the 14th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival, scheduled to take place from 23 January to 1 February 2026 in the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood. The first-place winner will receive $15,000, followed by $7,000 for second place and $5,000 for third.

Submissions will be reviewed by a judging committee comprising representatives from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Culture and Salik. The initiative seeks to spotlight multidisciplinary creative talent, support emerging voices and encourage experimentation and innovation within Dubai’s arts ecosystem. It also aligns with Dubai Culture’s broader mandate to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, a hub for creativity and an incubator for talent.

Ibrahim Al Haddad, CEO of Salik, said: “Our collaboration with Dubai Culture on the ‘Erth Dubai Through Your Eyes’ competition extends Salik’s commitment to empowering talent, supporting youth creativity, and reinforcing the role of art as a key element in shaping the future of Dubai. The competition comes in response to the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and contributes to strengthening the legacy of ‘Erth Dubai’ by providing an innovative platform that enhances the value of our digital solutions and services and contributes to the development of a smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem. It also opens the door for the next generation to contribute to designing tags that accompany customers on their daily journeys across the city. Through this partnership, we look forward to motivating promising talent in schools, universities, and the creative community, and inspiring them to present works that reflect Dubai’s spirit and support its ambitions to reinforce its global leadership in innovation and quality of life.”

Read: Dubai toll operator Salik posts 39.5% rise in revenue

Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, highlighted the role of art in expressing the emirate’s identity and reaffirmed Dubai Culture’s commitment to nurturing talent and expanding access to creative opportunities.

She said: “The ‘Dubai Through Your Eyes’ competition celebrates what makes Dubai distinctive. It will help spread a culture of creativity, encourage innovation among artists, and prompt them to harness the emirate’s cultural and heritage resources to express their diverse visions. The resulting works will strengthen the city’s cultural and creative industries and elevate artistic and visual appreciation across Dubai.”

The competition will expand Salik’s design library while strengthening public engagement with the brand through fresh creative interpretations. All submissions must be original, contemporary, and previously unpublished, while remaining aligned with local values and traditions.

Kuwait will sign a contract next week with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) to complete the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, Public Works Minister Noura Al-Mashaan said on Thursday.

The Central Agency for Public Tenders approved on December 1 a contract between the ministry and CCCC for engineering, procurement and construction of the port’s first phase, according to the official gazette.

The contract is valued at 1.219 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($3.97bn), a government document seen by Reuters showed.

Kuwait’s prime minister will attend the signing ceremony with the Chinese side, Al-Mashaan said in a statement.

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, on Bubiyan Island in northern Kuwait, is a strategic project aimed at creating a secure regional corridor and commercial hub. China has sought to link it to its Belt and Road Initiative.

TECOM Group has launched Phase 4 of Innovation Hub in Dubai Internet City, responding to rising demand for Grade-A office space from global multinational companies operating across future-focused economic sectors.

Valued at Dhs615m, the fourth phase will deliver 263,000 sq ft of gross leasable area and further strengthen Dubai Internet City’s position as the region’s leading technology hub. With this launch, TECOM Group’s total investment in the Innovation Hub project will reach Dhs2bn, aligning with its long-term strategic growth plan.

The announcement follows strong demand across earlier phases of the development. Innovation Hub Phase 3 was fully leased ahead of its scheduled completion in 2027, while Phase 2 has already been completed and fully occupied by Fortune 500 companies and digital economy leaders. Phase 1 continues to serve as the foundation of the project and remains home to global technology players including Google and Gartner.

Scheduled for completion in 2028, Phase 4 will expand TECOM Group’s portfolio of premium commercial assets, enhancing its capacity to support both existing and new technology tenants amid growing demand for high-quality office space driven by national economic strategies.

“The launch of Innovation Hub Phase 4 reflects TECOM Group’s ongoing commitment to supporting vital future-focused economic activity in the UAE and Dubai,” said Abdulla Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Group PJSC. “The UAE’s and Dubai’s globally renowned pro-business framework, coupled with visionary strategies such as the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy and Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’, continue to highlight our nation’s ability to attract future-focused innovators and investors. This strategic development further enhances Dubai Internet City’s empowering role in the technology sector, ensuring it is well-positioned to serve the evolving needs of the digital economy.

“Our healthy liquidity and strategic roadmap for sustainable growth ensure we are well-placed to capitalise on favourable market dynamics, and we will continue to expand TECOM Group’s portfolio in high-growth sectors that promote innovation to deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”

Read: TECOM Group approves Dhs1.6bn land acquisition to expand Dubai Industrial City

The Group will fund the development using existing resources while maintaining a strong leverage and liquidity position. The project follows TECOM Group’s robust nine-month financial performance in 2025, supported by higher occupancy, increased rental rates, operational efficiencies, and portfolio expansion. During the first nine months of the year, the Group reported revenues exceeding Dhs2.1bn, representing a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, while net profit surpassed Dhs1.1bn, up 18 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

Established in 1999, Dubai Internet City has evolved into the region’s largest technology hub, hosting multinational corporations, start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies. The district contributes around 65 per cent of Dubai’s tech GDP and offers a comprehensive ecosystem that includes premium Grade-A offices and 20 research, development, and innovation centres.

Dubai Internet City forms part of TECOM Group’s wider portfolio of sector-focused business districts, which also includes Dubai Media City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Industrial City.

The UAE’ tourism sector extended its strong growth momentum in 2025, reinforcing its role as one of the country’s most dynamic economic pillars, supported by large-scale projects, modern infrastructure and rising visitor demand, state news agency, WAM reported.

The tourism and travel sector contributed Dhs257.3bn to gross domestic product, accounting for 13 per cent of the national economy, according to official data.

Hotel establishments welcomed 23.27 million guests in the first nine months of the year, up 4.9 per cent year on year, while total hotel nights exceeded 79.3 million.

Hotel revenues rose 7.2 per cent to more than Dhs35.9bn over the same period.

Average hotel occupancy climbed to 79.2 per cent, while the number of occupied rooms increased 3.5 per cent to 46.17 million.

The average daily room rate rose 4.2 per cent to Dhs557, supported by a total capacity of 216,248 rooms across 1,246 hotel establishments nationwide.

UAE aviation sector showed robust growth

Aviation activity also remained robust, with Abu Dhabi Airports, Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport handling a combined 108.59 million passengers by the end of September, the WAM report said.

The year was marked by the launch and announcement of several major tourism developments, including the Dhs2bn Therme Dubai wellness and leisure destination, the opening of Abu Dhabi’s interactive Butterfly Sanctuary, the Wynn Al Marjan Island hotel and resort in Ras Al Khaimah, and the Avani+ Fujairah Resort scheduled to open in 2028.

Other projects included the Dhs3.5bn Al Tay Hills development in Sharjah, the second phase of the Umm Al Qaiwain Creek Waterfront, and the announcement of a Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island, one of the largest global entertainment projects.

Winter tourism campaign

In February, the fifth edition of the “World’s Coolest Winter” campaign concluded under the theme “Green Tourism,” generating hotel revenues of nearly Dhs1.9bn, up 86.9 per cent, and attracting more than 4.4 million guests, a 62 per cent increase compared with the previous edition.

The campaign reached 224.7 million people worldwide.

On the international stage, the UAE renewed its membership on the Executive Council of UN Tourism for the 2025 to 2029 term.

In a landmark development, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais was elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism for the 2026 to 2029 term, becoming the first woman to hold the post since the organisation’s establishment.

Other highlights in 2025 included Masfout village being named “Best Tourism Village in the World 2025,” while the UAE ranked among the world’s top seven destinations for international tourism spending.